A method of automatically processing a digital color image, the digital color image having pixels values from which lightness, chroma, and hue values of the image can be deduced according to a predetermined transform, includes the steps of: transforming the pixel values to lightness, chroma and hue values; transforming the hue values by consistently and smoothly moving the hue values within a predetermined region of color space toward or away from hues of predetermined preferred colors; and consistently and smoothly shifting the hue values in a predetermined region of color space to avoid predetermined objectionable colors.